LAFAYETTE PARISH — A former employee was arrested late Thursday after hours of tension at Acadiana Mall.
A huge police presence descended on the mall Thursday afternoon; patrons were evacuated and employees locked down in their stores.
Within an hour, Lafayette Police reported that no shots had been fired and there were no injuries - despite lots of misinformation posted on social media alleging people were shot.
After sweeping the mall, Lafayette Police said the facility was safe. They said no gunman was found inside the mall, but the investigation led to the arrest of Gregory Stevens, a former employee and security guard at the facility.
Lafayette Police say Stevens, 38, of Lafayette, had been terminated in early December and banned from the property. Witnesses reported seeing Stevens acting erratically inside the mall earlier in the evening, raising concern among patrons.
Stevens was later located and taken into custody at a residence in the 100 block of Pleasant View Drive in Lafayette. When he was booked, he gave an address in Jacksonville, Florida.
Police say he was booked with trespassing, terrorizing and on an active warrant for possession of a stolen firearm.
Law enforcement officials have not confirmed whether Stevens was armed or if he posed an active threat at the time of his arrest.
The investigation remains ongoing.
